Semi-automatic package wrapping machine



Dec. 3, 1963 F. M. WILLBRANDT smal-AUTOMATIC PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 7, 1961 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 3, 1963 F. M. WILLBRANDT AUTOMATIC PACKAGE WRAPPING MACHINE SEMI 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7, 1961 A T TORN EY Uite atta This invention relates to improvements in semi-automatic package wrapping machine. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a machine having both manually and automatically actuated parts which Iwill facilitate the operation of wrapping a wrapper sheet of transparent material such as cellophane over and `around food packages and in particular flat paper trays containing meat and produce.

Second, to provide a produce packaging machine which will effectively lform second, third and fourth folds across the underside of a package and retain the folds in place while the package is passed in a sliding motion along a single at surface across a heat sealing element to seal the folds.

Third, to provide a package wrapping and sealing machine in which the operator can perform all of the wrapping and sealing operations in a single .plane and in which part of the folding operation on the wrapper is accomplished by mechanism leaving lthe operators hands free to manipulate the package.

Fourth, to provide a package Wrapping machine which will draw 'a wrapper sheet downwardly over the top and side of a package and pull the sheet snugly over the package while folding the end of .the sheet in a bottom fold along `the bottom surface of the package.

Fifth, to provide a simple and inexpensive Wrapping mechanism to facilitate and speed the manual wrapping of packages of vario-us sizes.

Other objects 'and advantages of the invention will be apparent `from a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of the wrapping mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the wrapping mechanism.

FG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged plan view of the mechanism Iwith a portion of the top broken away to illustrate operating connections therebelow.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the `line 3 3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic or diagrammatic view showing the several stages or steps in the progressive wrapping of a package with the machine of the invention. The view shows the package and wrapper in plan views.

FIG. 5 is a conventional or schematic View of the wrapping steps shown in side elevation with corresponding steps projected from FIG. 4. The several successive steps in FIGS. 4 and 5 are identified by the letters A through H as corresponding sections of FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional View through the Wrapper sheet retaining roller and showing a wrapper in operative position relative to a package being Wrapped.

The wrapping mechanism is built into a table having att .l

.tf-atented Dec. 3, i

a fiat top 1' supported upon suitable -legs 2. Shelves 3 `are adapted to support diierent sized boxes 4 Vof cornmercially avail-able sheets of wrapping material such as heat scalable cellophane cut in diamond shape. An exten- Sion bar 5 slidable in the top surface of the table at the rear or left end thereof supports one of the larger boxes at approximately the same position on the table. It will be understood that the operator selects the size of wrapper sheet to wrap the particular packages being handled. Intermediate of its ends the table top 1 has a .transversely extending slot or trough 6 formed therein with a flat cross lbar 61 at its bottom. Immediately to the rear or left of the `groove 6 are two holes 7 for stop lugs 8. Near the front or right edge of the table is a transverse slot 9 for a heated sealing plate 10. Openings 11 at each end oi the groove 6 pass vertically reciprocable support rods or at bars 12 Ithat support a transverse gripper bar in the form of a roller 13' as will be described. The trough 6 is deep enough so that the roller is substantially completely received in the groove to bear frictionally upon a single layer or thickness of a wrapper sheet 14 wrapped around a package 1S and pressed against the -bar `61 -as will be described. (See FIG. 6.)

Bracket plates 16 projecting from the right legs support the right end `of the table top and have upright guide- Ways 17 on their inner sides which retain and guide the support bars 12. The plates 16 also support bearings 18 for :the cross shaft 19 which has handles 2t) on each end at the outer sides of the table. A rock shaft 21 is supported by bearings 22 rearwardly of the cross shaft. The rock shaft 21 has angled crank 4arms 23- at each end projecting .toward the support bars 12 and depending links 24 connect the crank arms to the lower end of the support bars `with pivots at 25 and 2s respectively. The cross shaft 19 has crank arms 27 .that are connected to intermediate positions of the cranks 23 by reversely C-shaped links 28. Pivots for the links 2S appear at 29 and From the foregoing it will be apparent that with the handles 2t? in the lowered tfull line position illustrated, the cranks 27 will be raised raising the C-links 2S, and through them the crank-s 23, links 24 and support bars 12 to elevate the roller 13 well above the table 1. The elevation of the roller is such as -to permit a sheet of wrapping material 14 to be passed over the largest package to be wrapped such as a chicken or rib roast of beef and easily passed underneath the raised roller as will be described. The lowered positions or" the parts indicated by the dotted lines and reference numerals with suiix A position the roller in the trough 6.

A short rock shaft 31 supported -by bearings 32 to the right of the roller trough ti has crank arms 33v supporting the heated seal plate lil. An oppositely extending arm or beam 34 supports the stop lugs 8. 'I'he shaft 31 and arms 33 and beam 34 are oscillated by a depending crank 35 connected by a link 36 with a short crank 37 on the rock shaft 21. This causes the stops 8 tomove up and the heater 10 to ygo down when the roller 13 is raised.

The reverse C-slrape `of .the links 28 places the pivots 29 and 36 on the rear side of the cross shaft 19 when the roller is raised so that the Weight of the roller -and connected support bars 12 which is substantial, tends to rotate the cranks 27 counterclockwise locking the links 28 against shait 19. The linkage is thus self locking in the raised position of the roller.

In order to leave the operators hands free to manipulate the package and wrapper, means are provided for lowering the roller other than by manipulation of the handles Ztl. Short crank arms S on the cross shaft are disposed in slots formed in the ends of push bars 39. The push bars extend rearwardly to cranks si? pivoted on the underside or" the table. Spring biased push rods eX- tending through the sides of the table and provided with buttons 42 on their outer ends are provided with pins 43 engaged in notches 44 in the cranks. llias springs for the bars :are shown at 45. By bumping either button l2 with his hip the operator can push :the cranks 3S yand cross shaft l past center so that roller i3 falls by gravity into the trough 6 to rest on the bar el or a sheet of wrapping material interposed therebetween.

The cycle of operation of the machine is `as follows:

The operator lowers a handle 2C at either side of the machine thus raising the roller 13. A sheet 1d of wrapping material is laid hat on the table behind the roller and la package d to be wrapped is placed over the 'front corner of the wrapper las shown in PiGS. 4A and 5A and against the stop lugs S as sho-wn in FIG. 6. The roller i3 being raised out of the way, the operator swings or loops the trailing edge ot the wrapper forwardly over the package and across the trough e as shown in FlGS. 4B and 5B. Note that the operators hand need not project under the roller to do this. The operator then bumps the knob 42 and the roller i3 falls by gravity pressing the over folded end of the wrapper Vinto the trough 6 as shown in FIGS. 5C and 6. The roller exerts a yieldable tension on the wrapper as the operator next slides the package forwardly over the roller i3. This yfolds the over folded edge of the wrapper snugly over the package and back under the bottom of the package and forms a first bottom lfold and overlaps `as shown at de in FEGS. 4D and 5D and a simple sliding motion passes the overlap forwardly and backwardly' over the sealing plate 19 sealing the rst overlap. Y

The package, now with a tubular wrapper may be left open at the ends but is often returned over the still lowered roller to the rear side of the stop lugs '8 and the roller is raised 1as in FIGS. 4E and 5E. Relowering the roller and advancing the package again forms a second or end overlap ri7 which is sealed on the hot plate in the same manner as the first underlap. (See FIGS. 4F and 5F.) The package is `again reversed as in FIGS. 4G and 5G and the process repeated to form the nished package with all fozur sides of lthe wrapper lapped under the package and sealed to each as in FIGS. 4H and 5H.

At no time is it necessary [to lift the pack-age ofi of the table and after the initial positioning of the at sheet and package and the swinging of the sheet over the package as in FIG. 5B, Ithe entire operation is ya sequence of sliding operations back and forth over the roller and the heated seal plate. The finished package may be disposed of to any suitable receiving rack or table.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A semi-autornatic package wrapping machine comprising a at top table having `a wrapper supply supporting area at one end and a heated sealer bar reciprocable from underneath the table to the surface thereof at the other end of the table,

a transverse trough formed in said table between said supportingl area and said bar,

a package supporting `area on said table between said wrapper supply area and said trough,

a package stop vertically reciprocable through said table between said package area and said trough and closely adjacent the trough,

a pair of vertically reciprocable uprights positioned to project above said table at each end of said trough,

a transverse roller `freely rotatably supported between d the upper ends of said uprights and arranged to =rest against -the bottom of said trough and below the surface of said table in the lowered position of said uprights,

manually operable means for reciprocating said uprights including guideways tor the lower ends of the upriglits mounted below said table,

levers iXedly pivoted below said table and having links pivotally connected to the lower ends ot said uprights,

a cross shaft journalled below said table and having an operating handle on each end,

`cranks on said cross shaft having second links on their swinging ends pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said levers,

said cranks and second links being arranged to move to overcentering position relative to said cross shaft in the elevated posi-tion of said uprights,

a transversely reciprocabile spring loaded plunger projecting from each side of said table, Y linkage connected between said plungers and said cross shaft to push said cranks back past center relative to said cross shaft when one of said plungers is pushed,

a rocker beam mounted below said table and supporting said sealer bar and said package stop,

and another crank connected to oscillate with said levers and connected to said beam to raise said sealer bar to the level of said table when said roller is lowered and raise said package stop when said roller is raised.

2. A semi-automatic package wrapping machine comprising -a iat top table having a wrapper supply supporting area at one end and a heated sealer bar reciprocable yfrom underneath the table to the surface thereot` at the other end of the table,

a transverse trough formed in said table between said supporting area and said bar,

a package supporting area on said .table between said wrapper supply area and said trough,

a package stop vertically reciprocable through said 4table between said package area and said trough,

a pair of vertically reciprocable uprights positioned to project above said table at each end of said trough,

a transverse roller freely rotatably supported between the upper ends of said uprights and arranged to rest against the bottom or" said trough in the lowered position of said uprights,

manually operable means Vfor reciprocating said uprights including guideways for the lower ends of the npr-ights mounted below said table,

-levers ixedly pivoted below said table and having links pivotally connected to the lower ends of said uprights,

a cross shaft journalled below said table and having an operating handle on one end,

cranks on said cross shaft having second links on their swinging ends pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said levers,

said Vcranks and second links being arranged to move to over-centering position relative to said cross shaft in the elevated position of said uprights,

a transversely reciprocable spring loaded plunger projecting from one side of said table,

. linkage connected between said plunger and said cross shaft to push said cranks back past center relative to said cross shaft when said plunger is pushed,

a rocker beam mounted below said table and supporting said sealer lbar and said package stop,

and means `actuated by said cross shaft connected to said beam to raise said sealer bar to the level of said table when said roller is lowered and raise said package stop when said roller is raised.

3. A semi-automatic package wrapping machine comprising a flat top table having a Wrapper supply supporting area at one end and a heated sealer bar reciprocable from underneath the table to the surface thereof at the other end of the table,

a transverse trough formed in said table between said supporting area and said bar,

a package stop vertically reciprocable through said table between said package area and said trough,

a pair of vertically reciprocable uprights positioned to project above said table at each end of said trough,

a transverse roller freely rotatably supported between the upper ends of said uprights and arranged to rest against the bottom of said trough in the lowered position of said uprights,

manually operable means for reciprocating said uprights including levers iixedly pivoted below said table and having links pivotally connected to the lower ends of said uprights,

a cross shaft journalled below said table and having an operating handle on one end,

cranks on said cross shaft having second links on their swinging ends pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said levers,

said cranks `and second links being arranged to move to over-centering self locking position relative to said cross shaft in the elevated position of said uprights,

a rocker beam mounted below said table and supportint7 said semer bar and said package stop,

u and means actuated by said cross shaft connected to said beam to raise said sealer bar to the level of said table when said roller is lowered and raise said package stop when said roller is raised.

4. A semi-automatic package wrapping machine comprisin g a flat top table having a wrapper supply supporting area at one end arid a heated sealer bar reciprocable from underneath the table to the surface thereof at the other end of the table,

a transverse trough formed in said table between said supporting area md said bar,

a pair of vertically reciprocable uprights positioned to project above said table at each end of said trough,

a transverse roller freely rotatably supported between the upper ends of said uprights and arranged to rest against the bottom of said trough in the lowered position of said uprights,

manually operable means for reciprocating said uprights including levers iixedly pivoted below said table andV having links pivotally connected to the lower ends of said uprights,

a cross shaft journalied below said table and having 'an operating handle on one end,

cranks on said cross shaft having second links on their swinging ends pivotally connected to intermediate portions of said levers,

said cranks and second links being arranged to move to over-centering self locking position relative to said cross shaft in the elevated position of said uprights,

a rocker beam mounted below said table and supporting said sealer bar,

and means operated by said cross shaft connected to said beam to raise said sealer bar to the level of said table when said roller is lowered.

5. A package wrapping table having a groove formed in the surface thereof with a package receiving area on one side of the groove and a wrapper sealing area with a retractable heating sealing plate therein on the other side of the groove,

means spaced below the top of said table and extending transversely under said groove to form a bottom for the groove,

a gripper bar rollingly receivable in said groove with portions engaged with the means forming the bottom surface of the groove at points spaced therealong over a substantial portion yof the central part of said groove and with the top of the bar substantially Hush with the adjacent surface of the table,

supports connected to the ends of said bar and rollingly supporting said bar,

and means including a manually operable handle mounted on said table and connected to said supports to lift said bar out `of said groove to a position spaced substantially above said table to permit a wrapper sheet to be passed over a package on said receiving area to a position of the sheet overlying said groove.

6. A package wrapping table having a groove Kformed in the surface thereof with a package receiving area on one side `of the groove and a wrapper sealing area with a heated sealing plate therein on the other side of the groove,

means spaced below the top of said table and extending transversely under said groove to form a bottom for the groove,

a gripper bar receivable in said groove with portions engaged with the means forming the bottom surface of the groove at points spaced therealong over a substantial portion of the central part of said groove and with the top of the bar substantially flush with the adjacent surface of the table,

supports connected to the ends of said bar,

and means including la manually operable handle mounted on said table and connected to said support to lift said `bar out of said groove to a position spaced substantially above said table to permit a wrapper sheet to be passed over a package yon said receiving area to a position of the sheet overlying said groove.

7. A package wrapping table having a groove formed in the surface thereof with a package receiving area on one side of the groove and a wrapper sealing area with a retractable heated sealing plate therein on the other side of the groove,

means spaced below the top `of said table and extending transversely under said groove to for-m -a bottom for the groove,

a gripper bar rolling-ly receivable in said groove with portions engaged with the means forming the bottom surface of the groove at points spaced therealong over a substantial portion of the central part of said groove and with the top of the bar su-bstantially flush with the adjacent surface of the table,

supports connected to the ends of said bar and rollingly supporting said bar,

and means including a manually operable handle mounted on said table an-d connected to said supports to lift said bar out of said groove to a position spaced substantially above said table to permit a wrapper sheet to be passed over a package on said receiving area to a position of the sheet overlying said groove,

said manually operable means being further connected to said sealing plate to raise said plate to the surface of said table when said lbar is lowered.

8. A package wrapping table having a lgroove formed in the surface thereof with a package receiving area on one side of the groove and a wrapper sealing area with a heated sealing plate therein on the other side of the groove,

means spaced below the top of said table and extending transversely under said groove to -form a bottom for the groove,

a gripper bar receivable in said groove with portions engaged with the means forming the lbottom surface d of the groove at points spaced therealong over a substantial portion of the central part of said Igroove Si transversely under said groove to form a bottom fo the groove, l

a gripper Ibar receivable -in said groove with portions engaged with the means forming the bottom surface of the ,groove at points spaced -therealong over a substantial portion of the central part of said groove and with the top of the bar substantially ush with the adjacent surface of the table,

supports connected to the ends of said bar,

and means mounted `on said table and connected to said and with the top of the bar substantially ilush with the adjacent surface of the table,

supports connected to the ends of said bar, 5

and manually operable means mounted on said table and connected to said supports to lift said bar out of said lgroove to an elevation spaced substantially above said table.

9. A package Wrapping table having a groove formed 10 in supports to lift said bar out of said groove to an the surface thereof with a package receiving area on elevation spaced `substantially above said table.

one side `of the -groove and a Wrapper scaling area with a heated sealing plate therein on the other side of the groove, 15 means spaced below the top of said table and extending References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,1396 Rumsey Nov. 26, 1957 

5. A PACKAGE WRAPPING TABLE HAVING A GROOVE FORMED IN THE SURFACE THEREOF WITH A PACKAGE RECEIVING AREA ON ONE SIDE OF THE GROOVE AND A WRAPPER SEALING AREA WITH A RETRACTABLE HEATING SEALING PLATE THEREIN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GROOVE, MEANS SPACED BELOW THE TOP OF SAID TABLE AND EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY UNDER SAID GROOVE TO FORM A BOTTOM FOR THE GROOVE, A GRIPPER BAR ROLLINGLY RECEIVABLE IN SAID GROOVE WITH PORTIONS ENGAGED WITH THE MEANS FORMING THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE GROOVE AT POINTS SPACED THEREALONG OVER A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PART OF SAID GROOVE AND WITH THE TOP OF THE BAR SUBSTANTIALLY FLUSH WITH THE ADJACENT SURFACE OF THE TABLE, SUPPORTS CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF SAID BAR AND ROLLINGLY SUPPORTING SAID BAR, AND MEANS INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE HANDLE MOUNTED ON SAID TABLE AND CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTS TO LIFT SAID BAR OUT OF SAID GROOVE TO A POSITION SPACED SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID TABLE TO PERMIT A WRAPPER SHEET TO BE PASSED OVER A PACKAGE ON SAID RECEIVING AREA TO A POSITION OF THE SHEET OVERLYING SAID GROOVE. 